Oliver Glasner’s Eagles have seen goals hard to come by this season with a direct Michael Olise replacement yet to be found.
Crystal Palace have only scored five goals all season so far, which leaves the Eagles with a -5 goal differential.
There has been far less attacking quality from Oliver Glasner’s side when compared with the back end of last season and this has been the deciding factor in the Eagles being 18th in the league.
Despite the relegation form, Opta has predicted that Crystal Palace will survive this season – with Danny Murphy tipping one player to make all the difference.
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points |
16 | Everton | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 5 |
17 | Ipswich | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 4 |
18 | Crystal Palace | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 3 |
19 | Southampton | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 1 |
20 | Wolves | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 21 | -12 | 1 |
Crystal Palace can find Michael Olise replacement in the academy
Crystal Palace’s attack has been struggling to create chances, with the dynamics of the front three all wrong after Michael Olise’s exit.
But in terms of a true replacement, perhaps Glasner should look to the academy where some excellent options are emerging.
In the summer, Crystal Palace spent roughly £38m on three players to replace the impact brought by Olise.
Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr were all signed to play a part for the Eagles on the right side – yet the real answer to Glasner’s problems might have been under his nose at Copers Cope all along.
Player | Games | Goals | Assists |
Asher Agbinone | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Hindolo Mustapha | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Jesse Derry | 6 | 7 | 1 |
All three have top potential and could easily make it at the club, although the most immediate option is on loan in the academy.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is proving himself right as he wanted the challenge of loan football and has so far been impressing for Sheffield United
Rak-Sakyi was in the Championship team of the week recently and is absolutely on track to return to the Eagles next summer ready to contribute.
Hindolo Mustapha impressive for Sierra Leone
Right now within the Crystal Palace academy, there are a number of impressive players, most of which are in attack.
Despite Samuel Lusale joining Manchester United, Copers Cope still boasts some top talents such as Jesse Derry, Asher Agbinone and Hindolo Mustapha.
Well, on Friday while on international duty for Sierra Leone it was Mustapha who caught our eye and no doubt sent a message to Glasner.
In a 4-1 defeat to the Ivory Coast, Mustapha came off the bench to provide Sierra Leone fans with their only moment of joy in the game.
This was as the 18-year-old tricked his way past AS Roma’s Evan N’Dicka and then made a really well-worked assist for his country – something which Glasner will have been impressed by considering he managed N’Dicka at Frankfurt.
This follows Mustapha scoring his first goal for Sierra Leone in September. These goal contributions for his country come in a season in which Mustapha has been very impressive in the academy for the Eagles.
Glasner best be taking note of the teenager as he could be a long-term solution.
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